Arkansas men’s basketball coach John Calipari says he felt unexpectedly embarrassed when he spotted pop star Taylor Swift during the NBA Finals, and chose not to approach her. He describes being in a back corner at the game, watching, and acting like he was focused on his phone instead of introducing himself.
Calipari’s comments come as multiple outlets report on Swift’s attendance at a Finals game at Madison Square Garden. One outlet notes he compares the moment to earlier encounters in which he felt similarly unsettled, including meetings with Barack Obama and Chris Rock. Another report adds that Calipari characterized Swift’s demeanor as “bubbly.” Despite the celebrity setting, Calipari frames his reaction as personal nerves rather than anything specific about the interaction itself.
